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Man's Hand
The stick and leather thong represent dogs' bondage to their human masters. Throughout the novel, humans use the stick and leather thong to prevent their animals from escaping into the wild. Bill and Henry bind their dogs when they fear that they might be lured into the forest. Gray Beaver constrains Kiche so that she won't run away, or attack other dogs. In this way, the stick and leather thong not only physically restrain these canines, but also suppresses their urge to return to nature. Under the stick and thong, dogs are forced to remain by the side of man.
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The Stick and Leather Thong Symbol Timeline in White Fang
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Stick and Leather Thong appears in White Fang. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Chapter 2
...eaten by the wolves. That night, as a precaution, Bill ties each dog to a stick in the ground with a leather thong so that they cannot chew through the harness...
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Part 3, Chapter 1
...cub, whom he names White Fang, as his own by tying them down with a stick and leather thong.
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Part 4, Chapter 2
...Beauty Smith, who beats White Fang severely with his club and ties him to a stick in the ground.
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